Right now, Tyson Fury has the perfect job: come to America and just be Tyson Fury. Broadcasters ESPN, and veteran promoter Bob Arum will create the resonance.
The 6ft 9ins tall heavyweight has to win against Tom Schwarz on Saturday night, of course, but this fighter is a far cry from the one who took the world crown in November 2015 and then spiralled out of control with depression and mental illness.
“It’s absolutely fantastic that they want me to be myself,” said the Gypsy King Fury from the offices of Bob Arum’s Top Rank boxing in Sin City where he starts a multi-fight deal with ESPN worth £80 million.
“Everyone is asking, have you got pressure on you for this fight? Do you need to impress? But they don’t want me to do anything but be myself.” Fury does not even mind being referred to as “a mad genius”.
“I think it’s kind. I take that as a compliment,” responded the fighter, who sang a paean to his wife Paris in the ring after he had defeated Wladimir Klitschko to claim the No 1 spot in the division. “It was one of the most beautiful moments with me and my wife. It just happens. It’s not rehearsed – it’s just off the cuff. It’s all fun and games inside my head now. It’s like the Las Vegas illuminations,” offered Fury.
“Everything is going well for me at the minute. You’re now seeing the man behind the mask. I don’t have to act anymore. I played the pantomime villain quite well but it becomes a time in life when you just want to be yourself. I was sick of being somebody else that wasn’t me. I’m a family man, a loving person and everybody thought I was not a nice person.”
“It does get to be monotonous, it’s like what can I think of now that’s going to be controversial. I’m past all that now. I’m just being me. I hope my story alone and the way I fight – perhaps people can look at that more now rather than me acting up. The real Tyson Fury is what the fans are getting to see now. There is not much filter on what I do but I just try to be sensible and do the right things”. How does he see himself?
“Family man, father, brother, uncle, cousin. All of those things. I believe that the only thing that really matters is happiness. Whatever makes you happy do it, whatever doesn’t make you happy don’t do it. I think what has happened has brought me and my wife Paris closer. She knows me more than I know myself. I believe going through tough times together, it only brings you closer as a couple. She stood by me through thick and thin,” he explained, as he prepares for her arrival here in Sin City today.
“I haven’t been the best husband in the world at times. She is still here and we get on really well. It’s hard when you have five young children but we do try to get out once a week on a date night. We go out to a movie, or for dinner together or to a show. Just to get out for a few hours. I don’t think anybody else could put up with me. I met my soulmate when I met her because I don’t believe there is another woman in the world that would put up with me for more than half an hour.”
He added: “I’m a full-time father, I spend as much time at home with my children when I can because I know there is going to be months of being apart and not seeing them. I do everything I can when I’m at home and help Paris out as much as I can. I think we have a good family life. We try to do the right things as parents.”
Fury – who added that he left school at 10 to sell cars – believes his five children are unlikely to follow in his footsteps. “I would like my kids to go and do something different. I’ve set a precedent by becoming a world heavyweight champion, a lineal champion and all that. I would like my children to go on and better that. It’s tough in sports, to be the best in your sport.”
Is this the end of the journey for the bare knuckle fighters from the Fury family?
“I believe so. I don’t think there is much use in it all now. Today it gets you in all sorts of bother. I want my kids to be out of trouble and healthy. My daughter (Venezuela, nine) is into dancing. My eldest son (Prince, seven) shows no interest in contact sport whatsoever. He hates boxing. He’s seven, eight in October. He wants to be a Crystal Maze champion. I would love them to set a precedent and be the first Fury to graduate at university.”